About this episode

This episode explores the challenges men face in expressing vulnerability and emotions, featuring personal stories and insights from guests Cory Allen and James McCrae.

Many men grow up receiving the same messages: be strong, stay tough, don’t show too much emotion. But what actually happens when vulnerability, creativity, or sensitivity start to feel like things that need to be hidden? In this episode, host and therapist Sreela Roy-Greene sits down with author and podcast host Cory Allen, as well as writer and poet James McCrae for a deeply personal conversation about masculinity, emotional suppression, and learning how to reconnect with themselves. As a child, James felt he had to hide his love of poetry, while Cory was raised by a father he calls a “Texas Tony Soprano.” Together with Sreela, they each explore how vulnerability ultimately became a path toward deeper connection and understanding their childhood traumas. Later in the episode, BetterHelp therapist David Yadush joins Sreela to unpack the psychology behind emotional literacy, affect labeling, and why so many men struggle to express what they’re feeling. 00:00 The Challenge of Emotional Expression for Men 01:42 Cory Allen on Childhood, Safety, and Emotional Development 05:35 Why Vulnerability Feels Risky 10:16 Masculinity, Trauma, and Cultural Expectations 12:34 A Practical…

People in this episode

Host: Sreela Roy-Greene

Guests: Cory Allen, James McCrae

Topics covered

• masculinity
• emotional suppression
• vulnerability
• childhood trauma
• emotional literacy

Keywords

• emotional expression
• masculinity
• vulnerability
• childhood trauma
• emotional literacy

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